Abu Dhabi International (Private) School – Secondary, Al Karamah & Mohamed Bin Zayed City

Abu Dhabi International Private School [ADIP] was founded in 1992. The school is currently located in Al Karamah, with a (relatively much higher quality) second campus opening in Mohamed Bin Zayed City. For new students attending the new campus, however, fees almost double, although existing students are (currently) protected from the increase.

This review covers only ADIP secondary provision which achieves a very creditable A3 ADEC rating. Kindergarten and primary provision is catered for in the same school but at a significantly lower level achieving only a B4 score by inspectors in 2015.  We review this provsion separately.

It is also worth noting that the significant investment in new facilities is yet to be tested and a period of some flux is to be expected as the new facility beds in.

The school curriculum up to Grade 8 follows the American Common Core State Standards (CCSS). From Grade 9 the choice also includes a British‐based curriculum leading to the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE), Advanced Subsidiary (AS) and Advanced (A) level examinations. The school also offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP).

For children following either Baccalaureate or GCE A Level routes, results are outstanding, although the trade-off is a limitation of subject choice. The school chooses to focus mainly on the Sciences rather than traditional Arts based subjects or the performing arts. By focussing on a smaller, limited range of subjects ADIP genuinely achieves for its students within these streams, this despite significantly less resources and investment per student than its premium school counterparts in the Capital.

The school has traditionally promised that at least 5% of place will be reserved for students with Special Educational Needs [SEN], although in 2015 only 4% of children were identified with SEN across secondary provision and the 4% – 8% range is pretty indicative of what most schools should expect to address.

85 full time teachers provide a current (reasonable) 1:13.67 staff student ratio and in practice the school aims to ensure that class sizes do not exceed 25 students.

The old school suffers from significant shortcomings but the new facility should address these. As it stands, however, notwithstanding some improvements, current school buildings do not provide enough space, movement throughout the school is constricted and some classrooms are overcrowded. The buildings are not appropriate for students with physical disabilities.

 

This said, Dubai International is a much loved school that achieves at a very high level for a number of its students. As new facilities come on stream, and the many challenges of a dual campus school, at least in the short term, calm as change beds-in, there is much cause for optimism.